Self-dumping elevator



May 18, 1954 A. SIMONSEN SELF-DUMPING ELEVATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledOct. 4, 1951 9a 30 /00 Arnold Simonsen ,VVENTOR.

May 18, 1954 A. SIMONSEN SELF-DUMPING ELEVATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 4, 1951 A mold Simonsen mmvron.

May 18, 1954 A. SIMONSEN 2,678,745

' SELF-DUMPING ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. /5.F/'g./7. //0

1'7 .16. TY g Arno/d Simonsen -LL .lL INVENTOR.

BY 2mm wm vm Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICESELF-DUMPIN G ELEVATOR Arnold Simonsen, San Francisco, Calif.Application October 4, 1951, Serial No. 249,693

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus forhandling materials, and more particularly pertains apparatus for movingmaterial to and discharging such material at a selected position.

The primary object of this invention is to devise apparatus for movingmaterials along a travel path to an arbitrarily selected one of aplurality of spaced discharge positions along the travel path, and todischarge such material at the selected position solely by appropriatemovements of th material holding structure along the travel pathadjacent the discharge station.

Although the principles of this invention will find more generalapplication, such as in railway coal car dumping assemblies and otherhorizontal organizations, it is specifically an object of this inventionto devise an apparatus for moving materials vertically from a loadingposition and for selected positions either ing position.

Another important object of this invention is to provide cooperatingcarrier discharging apparatus on the carrier and on the carrier guidestructure, which will be inefiective to discharge the carrier when thecarrier moves upwardly or downwardly past the discharging station, butwhich will discharge the carrier when the latter is moved upwardly anddownwardly in a particular manner at such discharge station.

A meritorious feature of the present invention resides in the meansprovided for supporting the carrier assembly in such a manner that theweight of the assembly normally acts to hold the carrier in load holdingposition.

Another important feature of the present inabove or below theloadvention closely allied to the preceding feature resides in theprovision of means for tilting the carrier in response to downwardmovement of the carrier assembly due to the action of transference ofsome of the weight of the carrier assembly to such means.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in theprovision of a openable closure member for the tiltable carrier,together with structure for opening such closure in response to tiltingof the carrier to discharging position.

The final and important feature of the present invention to bespecifically enumerated herein resides in the discharging structureadapted to be secured to the elevator frame, together with cooperatingstructure on the carrier assembly for discharging such material atarbitrarily rendering the same operative to cause the carrier to tilt todischarging position.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will laterbecome apparent as the following description proceeds, such descriptionbeing given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the carrier assembly and thetilting means therefore, and is taken upon the plane of the section linel-l of Figure 2, certain concealed portions of the structure being shownin dotted outline, with an alternate position of the carrier closurebeing shown in dot dash lines;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the plane of thesection line 2-2 oi Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a broken vertical sectional view taken upon the plane ofsection line 3-4) of Fig- Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentaryelevational view of the end of the carrier assembly adjacent the tiltingmechanism, this view being taken from the plane of the line 2-4 ofFigure l, and illustrates particularly the arrangement of the oppositelypivoted dogs and the latch releasing means;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the end of thetilting means looking in the opposite direction from the plane uponwhich Figure 4 is taken;

Figures 6 and '7 are vertical sectional detail views taken upon theplanes of the sectional lines 5-45 and L4, respectively, of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken upon the plane ofthe section line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken upon the plane ofthe section line 9-9 in Figure 4;

Figure 10 is a broken sectional detail View taken upon the plane of thesection line iii-iii of Figure 1;

Figures 11-14 are sequential side elevaticnal views of the carrierdischarging operation;

Figure 15 is a side elevational View of the carrier in dumping position;

Figure 16 is a side elevational view of the carrier raised above thedischarging station; and

Figures 17 and 18 are sequential views illustrating the downward passageof the carrier assembly pass the carrier discharging apparatus so as tonot discharge the carrier of its contents.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings inwhich like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various views,and wherein attention is first directed to the elevator supportstructure and to the carrier assembly construction.

Referring specifically to Figures 1-3, it will be seen that there isprovided a more or less conventional elevator supporting structure Informed of rectangular-1y positioned vertical columns l2 and horizontaland diagonal brace members l5 and 16, respectively. It is within thespace between the columns 52 that the elevator or carrier assemblydesignating generally at I3 is mounted for vertical movement.

The carrier assembly I8 comprises a carrier frame formed of a base 20,upstanding side walls 22 and an upstanding end wall 24. Disposed betweenand in spaced relation to the side walls 22 is a tiltable open endedcarrier designated generally at 26. The carrier 28 includes a bot tomwall 28, upstanding side walls and. an end wall 32. The carrier 26 isfixed intermediate its ends to the top of the web 34 of a U-shapedcradle that includes vertically inclined legs 36 disposed between theside walls 22 of the carrier support frame and the side walls 36 of thecar- 1::

rier 26. The legs 36 are, in turn, provided with trunnions 38 that arejournalled in suitable bearings, not shown, in the side walls 22 of thecarrier support frame, whereby the carrier 28 is tiltably supported bythe carrier frame.

The elevator support structure has a pair of guide rails 48 fixed to thehorizontal and diagonal brace members It and I 8 thereof, which areslidably received in the vertical guide channels 42 fixed to the outerfaces of the side walls 22 of the carrier support frame, whereby theassembly I3 is guided for vertical movement within the structure I0 aswill be evident upon refer ence to Figure 2.

An inverted U-shaped member formed of a web 44 and legs 56 is provided,and the lower ends of the legs 56 are fixedly secured to the walls 22 inany suitable manner. The web 32 and the legs 46 are formed of inwardlyopening channel shaped members and slidably received for verticalmovement in the legs 46 are the legs 48 of an inverted U-shaped carriersupport member including a connecting web 50 that is received in the web44 to limit upward movement of the legs 48. freely through a centralaperture 54 provided in the web 4G and is terminally secured, as at 56,to the web 59. Conventional means, not shown, usually operable fromground level is of course provided for raising and lowering the elevatorcable 52, whereby the assembly i8 may be raised and lowered as desired.A pair of links 53 are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the legs48, as at 66, and are also pivotally connected to the outer ends of thelegs 36, as at G2, the arrangement being such that the weight of theassembly I8, when applied to the cable 52, tends to rotate or tilt thecarrier 25 in a clockwise manner (as viewed in Figure 1) about thetrunnions 38 to the normal material holding position shown in Figure 1,since upward movement of the web 50 relative to the web 44 will causesuch move ment as will be appreciated.

A gate or closure construction 64 is provided for the open end of thecarrier 26. Such construction 64 comprises corner posts 55 pivoted tothe side walls 30 of the carrier 26 adjacent the lower edge of the openend thereof by a pivot 6?.- (see Fig. '10). Quadrant plates 10 are fixedto the posts 68 and are disposed in the space inter-- An elevator cable52 extends mediate the side walls 22 on the side walls, such quadrantplates Hi being provided with arcuate slots 12 which slidably receiveheaded glide pins I4 carried by the side walls 30 to prevent thequadrant plates it from moving laterally from the side walls whilepermitting free pivotal movement thereof. The same pivot pin 88 thatpivots the posts 66 upon the side Walls 30 is also journalled through asuitable bearing opening provided in the lower portion of a closuremember 76 received between the posts 66. The closure I6 is normallyretained in fixed relation to the posts 66 to pivot therewith by latchconstructions 78, it being understood that when the latch constructions18 are unlatched the closure 16 may be swung outwardly from the carrier26 to such an alternate position as shown at 80 in Figure 1.

The latch constructions F8 are identical so that a description of onewill sufiice for both, and as shown in Figure 8, a latch bolt 82 isreciprocahly mounted in an apertured guide bosses 8d and 86 fixed to theclosure '16. An actuating projection 88 is formed on the bolt 82 thatextends upwardly from the closure 76 through a slot 90, therein. Acoiled compression spring 92 embraces the bolt 82 and is seated betweenthe boss 86 and the lateral projection 88 to yieldingly urge the bolt 82into a keeper opening 94 provided in the a"- jacent post 86. It will beevident that with the parts in the position shown in Figure 3, theclosure is latched to the posts 66 in such a manner as to swingoutwardly from the walls 30 in unison with the posts and the quadrantplates I0. Means is provided to swing the closure 15 outwardly from theopen end of the carrier 25 when the latter is tilted in ananti-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1. Such means comprise bellcranks es centrally pivoted to the side walls 30 as at 93. A pair oflinks Hill are provided which are terminally pivoted to the 20 at I02and to one end of the bell crank 55.6 at I04, while another pair oflinks I are terminally pivoted to the other ends of the cranks at I08and to the posts 56 at IIii.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, latch means is provided to preventtilting of the carrier 25. Such means comprises a rack shaft H2 rockablymounted on the base 2: said shaft being provided with a pair ofangulated latch pins Il-I that normally are engaged over a pair ofoppositely extending legs H6 fixed to the carrier 26. Coiled torsionsprings H8 are mounted to rock the shaft in a clockwise direction, asseen in Figure 1, so as to urge the pins I it into latching engagementwith the legs I! S. The latch pins I I s and legs H6 are so shaped thatwhen the carrier is rotated clockwise in the position shown in Figure l,the legs I it will cam the pins H4 to a sufiicient extent to permit thelegs IIB to pass below the angulated portions 01. the pins H4 so as toautomatically latch the carrier 26 against tilting. The structure andmanner in which the latch is released will be described presently.

Attention is now directed primarily to Figures 1, 2, 6 and '7 inconnection with the following description of the structure for causingthe automatic discharge of the carrier 26. Such structure is designatedgenerally at I20 and comprises a frame of housing I22 that is removablysecured to the elevator frame structure I0. The housing I22 includesside walls I24 and a front wall I28. A shaft I2? is journalled throughthe side walls I24 and has an eccentric 28 fixed thereto intermediatethe walls I24. A slide I30 is mounted the finger I86 and drive forhorizontal reciprocation in channels I32 formed in the adjacent faces ofthe side walls I24 and is connected to the eccentric I28 by means of aneccentric strap I38 that embraces the eccentric I28 and is pivotallysecured to the slide at Itt, whereby rotation or oscillation of theshaft I27 will efiect reciprocation of the slide I365. The slide I88 isbifurcated and pivotally receives therein an operating arm I38 that ispivoted thereto by a pivot pin I 30. The structure and purpose of thearm I33 will be elaborated upon shortly.

A pair of sprockets I42 and Hi l are fixed to the shaft I2! on oppositesides of the eccentric I28, and a pair of endless chains I28 and I48 areentrained over such sprockets respectively. The chain M6 is entrainedover a pair of vertically spaced idler sprockets I58 and I52 that aresuitably mounted in the housing I22 and the chain I48 is correspondinglyentrained over a pair of vertically spaced idler sprockets I54 and I56.As clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7, the flights of each of the chainsbetween the idler sprockets are parallel, vertical and arranged in thehousing I22 to be closely spaced to the plane of the front wall 26, withthe sprockets I58 and I52 so arranged that the vertical flight of thechain I416 is disposed to extend from a position adjacent the bottom ofthe housing I22 to a position spaced from the top thereof, and. thesprockets I54 and ifit are so arranged that the vertical flight of thechain I138 extends from adjacent the top of the housing I22 to aposition spaced from the bottom thereof. Slots I58 and 588 are providedin the front wall 125 in registry with the chains It? and M8,respectively, and backing strips IE2 are provided in the housing I22 forthe vertical flights of the chains I46 and I28 to prevent inwardmovement thereof. For a purpose to become erally projecting fingers I84and I65 are secured to the chains hit and 38, respectively, and extendthrough the slots I58 and ISII.

As best shown in Figure 9, a pair of oppositely pivoted dogs spacedrelation to the lower portion of the end wall 24 for cooperation withthe fingers I28 and its, a detailed sectional view of only the lowermostpivoted dog I58 being shown in Figure 9 as the dogs are identical inconstruction. As shown in Figure 9, the housing I'I2 for the dog IE8 issecured to the wall 25 by any suitable means, such as the rivet I'M. Thedog I88 extends upwardly and outwardly from its pivot I16 and isyieldingly urged outwardly from the housing by a spring strip I'I'B,such outwardly movement of the dog being limited by engagement of thedog I58 with the housing 512 at I80. The dog is arranged to have atravel path that coincides with the vertical portion of the travel pathof the finger IE4, so that it will be evident that on upward movementthe dog I68 will engage the latter upwardly until the same has movedinto the housing I22 over the sprocket I50, while in downwardly movementof the dog I88, the same will simply ratchet over the finger I68 withoutmoving the latter. The dog no is horizontally offset from the dog I58and is arranged to have a travel path coinciding with the verticaltravel path of the finger however, since the dog is oppositely arrangedwith respect to the dog I68, the dog IliI will ratchet over the fingerI66 on upward movement and drive the same downwardly on downwardmovement until the finger I68 is under the apparent presently, lat- I88and I28 are secured in vertically IS B.

sprocket I56. The arrangement is such that upon upward movement of thecarrier assembly I8 past the discharging structure I2II, the do willmove the finger I64 upward from the position shown in Figure 6 until itpasses over the sprocket I58, such movement of the finger I64 causingthe slide I30 to move to the left as viewed in Figure 1 until the lowerportion I82 of the operating arm I38 moves to a position outside thehousing I22 through a slot I82 in the latter;

such action occurring through the agency of the the chain I46, thesprocket I42, the shaft I21, the eccentric I28 and the eccentric strapI34 as will be evident. Such movement of the slide I30 will not ofitself cause the upper end I88 of the arm I33 to move outside thehousing I22 for the reason that a coiled compression spring I88 isbiased between a stop I953 in the housing I22 and the lower portion I32of the arm I38 to urge the latter in a clockwise direction as viewed inFigure 1.

It should also be noted at this time that such upward movement of thefinger I64 over the sprocket I58 out of engagement with the dog I88 willleave the finger 186 some distance below the sprocket I54 withsubsequent upwardly movement of the carrier assembly I8 simply causingthe dog IlIl to ratchet up past the finger I66, it being understood thatthe internal friction of the working parts of the structure I29 willprevent movement of the chains I46 and I48 unless either of the fingersU84 and I66 are positively engaged and driven by either of the dogs I58and IIIl. In a similar manner, downward movement of the chain M8 by thedog I18 will move the parts of the structure I29 to the positions shownthereof in Figures 1, 6 and 7, it being noted that after the finger I56passes under the sprocket I55, the dog E68 ratchets over the finger Itsthat is a short interval above the sprocket I52.

Reference is now made to the means for automatically releasing the latchpins Hi from the legs IIG. As will be seen presently such automaticoperation can only occur when the slide I38 is moved to the left of theposition shown in Figure 1 to such an extent that the lower portion I82of the arm 38 is outside the housing I22 and, accordingly, the twofollowing paragraphs describe such latch releasing means with such aposition of the slide I38 assumed.

A crank arm I92 having a bifurcated outer end that projects through anopening I94 in the wall 24 is secured to the rock shaft I I2 in such amanner that upward movement of the outer end of the arm I92 acts againstthe springs H8 and causes rotation of the shaft H2 to release the latchpins I I4 from the legs I IS. A vertical hollow enclosure member I96 issecured to the wall 24. into which the outer end of arm I92 projects. Anactuating element I98 is slidably received in the member I85 forvertical movement and is bifurcated at its upper end to receive thebifurcated outer end of the arm I92, a pin 280 carried by the elementI98 slidably extending through the furcation in the arm I92, thearrangement being such that upward movement of the element I93 willraise the arm I92.

An internal wall of the member I96 is inclined, as at 252, so that theelement I98 normally extends downwardly and outwardly from the bot tomof the member I96 toward the carrier discharging structure I28. Inoperation, downward movement of the carrier assembly I8 will cause theelement I88 to engage the lower portion I82 of the arm I38 in such amanner that the element I98 moves upward relative to the carrierassembly I8 to unlatch the legs IIB as described, and to causeanti-clockwise pivotal movement of the arm I38 about its pivot I40.

Such pivotal movement of the arm I38 causes the upper end I35 of the armI38 to move into the travel path of a stop 204 that is carried by thewall 32 of the carrier 26 which projects through an elongated verticalslot 200 in the wall 24. Upon engagement of the stop 204 with the topI86 of the arm I 38 and further downward movement of the carrierassembly IS, the carrier 26 is caused to tilt in an anti-clockwisedirection as will be evident upon inspection of Figure 1, it being notedthat the arm I38 will pivot automatically to remain in engagement withthe stop 204. It will be noted that the arm I 38 will extend into theslot 285, and it is obvious that downward movement of the carrierassembly I8 is positively limited to a position relative to thestructure I20 at which the upper extremity of the slot 206 reaches thearm I38.

Such tilting movement of the carrier 20 caused by the arm I30 isattended by the previously described action of the closure I6, so thatthe contents, not shown, of the carrier 28 will be discharged into anyappropriate receiving chute of conventional. character, not shown, andis arranged at a suitable level with respect to the elevation of thedischarging structure I20. After the carrier 26 is discharged, the cable52 is raised causing the links 56 to return the carrier 20 to its normalposition with the spring I88 returning the arm I38 to its normalposition. Upward movement of the carrier assembly I8 disengages theelement I96 from the arm I82 to permit the latch pins II4 to latch thelegs H6, as will be understood.

It is of the utmost importance to the present invention that the carrier26 is not discharged upon every occasion that the same passes downwardlypast the discharging structure I20, and that such discharging operationwill occur when and only when the carrier assembly I8 is moved in apredetermined manner relative to the discharging structure I20.

As mentioned previously, upward movement of the carrier assembly I3 willcause the dog I68 to move the finger I64 over the top of the sprocket I50. When the finger has been moved to such a position, the slide it!) isin the above described position so that the carrier dischargingoperation will occur upon downward movement of the carrier assembly,unless such downward movement that would normally discharge the carrier25, causes the slide I30 to move to the position shown thereof in Figure1, it being apparent that with the parts in the position shown in Figurel, discharging will not occur because the lower portion I82 of the armI38 is out of the travel path of the element I98. t is the purpose ofthe dog I70, the finger I66 and the chain I08 to move the parts of thestructure I20 to the inoperative position shown thereof in Figure l, in,response to such downward movement, when desired.

The dogs I66 and I16 and the fingers I64 and I66 are so arranged that atthe instant that the finger I64 is over the top of the sprocket I50, ascaused by upward movement of the carrier assembly I8, the dog H isspaced below the finger I66 and is not engaged over the top thereof, sothat the discharging structure I20 may be set in a cocked position.Clearly then, the structure I20 is always placed in the cooked positionany time the carrier assembly I8 past the same.

The carrier '26 will be discharged in the manner stated earlier if theassembly I8 is lowered relative to the structure I 20 when the latter isin the cooked position except when the carrier assembly I3 has beenraised to such an extent that the dog I ratchets over the top of thefinger I 56. If the dog I70 has ratcheted over the top of the fingerI66, subsequent downward movement of the carrier assembly I8 will causethe parts of the structure I20 to return to the inoperative positionshown thereof in Figure 1, due to the interaction of the dog I70 and thefinger I06, so that such downward movement of the carrier assembly I6will not cause the structure I20 to discharge the carrier 26.

Thus, it will be seen that the carrier assembly I8 will be free to passupwardly past the structure I20 at any time without being affectedthereby. If after passing entirely above the structure I20 (so that thedog I70 has ratcheted over the top of the finger I66), the carrierassembly I8 may be lowered past the structure I20 without being affectedthereby. However, if the carrier assembly I8 moves upwardly to a limitedextent by the structure (so that the finger I64 is moved over the top ofthe sprocket I50 and not enough to engage the dog I70 over the fingerI86), subsequent downwardly movement of the carrier as sembly I8 willcause the structure I20 to discharge carrier 25 as described previously.

The entire sequence of the steps necessary with the above describedapparatus to discharge the carrier 25 are shown in Figures 11-16. InFigure 11, the carrier assembly I8 is disposed below the structure I20,with the parts of the latter being in the positions shown thereof, inFigures 1, 6 and 7. The assembly I8 is moved upwardly as indicated bythe arrow 208, and Figure 12 shows the relation of the components afterthe dog I68 has engaged the finger I04 and moved the same a shortinterval. Further upward movement of the assembly I 8 cooks thestructure I20 as shown in Figure 13, it being noted that the lowerportion I82 of the arm I38 now projects from the housing I22, and thatthe dog I10 is not engaged over the top of the finger I66. Upon loweringthe assembly I8 from the position shown in Figure 14, the element I08has contacted the portion I82 of the arm I38 to unlatch the carrier 26,and the arm I38 has engaged the stop 284 and partially tilted thecarrier 26. The assembly I8 is shown at a still further lowered positionin Figure 15, and it will be noted that the arm I38 now positivelyprevents further descent of the assembly I8. From the position shown inFigure 15, the assembly may be raised as indicated by the arrow 2I0 inFigure 16, which returns the carrier 25 to its normal position whileleaving the structure I20 in the same condition as though the assemblyI8 had proceeded directly thereby without pausing to discharge.

Figures 17 and i8 illustrate the manner in which the assembly IS may bepassed downwardly past the structure I28 without dumping and may beconsidered subsequent sequential positions of the assembly I 8 uponbeing lowered from the position shown thereof in Figure 16. Since thedog I20 overlies the finger I60, downward movement of the assembly I8 asshown by the arrow 2I2 in Figures 17 and 18 causes the lower portion I82of the arm I38 to be retracted into the proceeds upwardly housing I22 ofthe structure I28 to be out of the travelled path of the element 198.

It will be readily appreciated that any number, and in fact in use ofthe invention a plurality of discharging structures are disposed atvertically spaced desired alternative discharging positions along thetravel path of the assembly 18. Obviously, the operator may movematerial from any position above or below the desired discharge positionand discharge the same at said desired discharge position. Only theselected discharge station I29 is actuated to discharge the carrier 26in response to a predetermined movement of the assembly it relative tothe selected discharge structure HQ.

The independent pivotal movement of the closure 16 when the latches '58are released per mit the carrier to be readily loaded at any levelincluding ground level.

The operator will in the usual building construction set up, operate orcontrol the vertical movements of the assembly l8 from ground level, andthe invention may utilize suitable signal circuits, not shown, toapprise the operator of the position of the assembly relative to aplurality of structures I28, and particularly in re-- lation to theposition of the assembly 18 relative to a selected structure 526 at thecritical interval when the dog Eli! is moving to ratchet over a finger[5%. However, those skilled in the art will be readily aware of how theconstruction may be modified to permit the operator of the assembly itto travel with the assembly.

It is of paramount importance to note that the instant invention is notin any sense limited to a carrier suitable for use only in verticaltravelling movements. Whatever part played in the operation of thepresent invention by the force of gravity may be readily supplanted bysuitable cables pulling upon the assembly l3, such as by attaching acable not shown, to the base 2% to oppose the action of the cable 52.More definitely, the present invention is thought to be capable of modication, particularly in the concept or cooking and uncocking of thedischarge structure !25, as to render the same capable of selectivelydischarging railroad coal cars at selected receiving stations solely inresponse to predetermined horizontal movements of a train or such cars.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the machine willbe readily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an elevator, a movable carrier including a tiltable constructionfor holding materials, guide means for the carrier, a vertical operatingarm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the guide means forvertical swinging movement of its lower end into the path of movement ofthe carrier latch means normally retaining the tiltable construction ofthe carrier against tilting, release means on said carrier for saidlatch means operated by engagement with said lower end upon downwardmovement of the carrier, said tiltable construction including a portionengageable with the upper end of the arm to the guide means for to tiltsuch construction upon downward movement of the carrier, said arm beingresponsive to the release means engaging the lower portion of the armduring downward movement of the carrier to pivot the arm to a positionin which the upper end of the arm is disposed in the path of movement ofsaid portion of the tiltable construction.

2. In an elevator, a movable carrier including a tiltable constructionfor holding materials, guide means for the carrier, a vertical operatingpivotally connected intermediate its ends to the guide means forvertical swinging movement of its lower end into the path of movement ofthe carrier, latch means normally retaining the tiltable construction ofthe carrier against tilting, release means on said carrier for saidlatch means operated by engagement with said lower end upon downwardmovement by said carrier, said tiltable construction including a portionengageable with the upper end of the arm to tilt such construction upondownward movement of the carrier, said arm being responsive to therelease means engaging the lower portion of the arm during downwardmovement of the carrier to pivot the arm to a position in which theupper end or the arm is disposed in the travel path of said portion ofthe tiltable construction, and means for shifting the axis of the armtowards and away from the path of movement of the carrier so that thelower portion or" the arm may be moved from the path of movement or thecarrier.

3. In an elevator, a movable carrier including a tiltable constructionfor holding materials, guidemeans for the carrier, a vertical operatingarm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the guide means forvertical swinging movement of its lower end into the path of movement ofthe carrier, latch means normally retaining the tiltable construction ofthe carrier against tilting, release means on said carrier for saidlatch means operated by engagement with said lower end upon downwardmovement by the carrier, said tiltable construction including a portionengageable with the upper end of the arm to tilt such construction upondownward movement of the carrier, said arm being responsive to therelease means engaging the lower portion of the arm during downwardmovement of the carrier to pivot the arm to a position in which theupper end of the arm is disposed in the path of movement of said portionof the tiltable construction, and means responsive to predeterminedvertical movements of the carrier relative shifting the pivot of the armtowards and away from the path or movement or" the carrier so that thelower portion of the arm may be moved from the path of movement of thecarrier.

i. In an elevator, a movable carrier including a tiltable constructionfor holding materials, guide means for the carrier, an operating armpivotally connected intermediate its ends to the guide means forvertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said tiltableconstruction including a portion engageable with the upper end of thearm to tilt such construction upon lowering the carrier, the upper endof said arm being normally disposed out of the travel path of saidportion, means for moving the upper end of the arm into the travel pathof said portion of the tiltable construction comprising an element onthe carrier having a travel path to 1; permit such element to engage thelower portion assent of the arm and move the latter about its axis, andmeans for shifting the axis of the arm towards and away from the travelpath of the carrier, whereby the entire arm may be moved from the travelpath of said portion of the tiltable construction and the travel path ofsaid element.

5. In an elevator, a movable carrier including a tiltable constructionfor holding materials, guide means for the carrier, an operating armpivotally connected intermediate its ends to the guide means forvertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said tiltableconstruction including a portion engageable with the upper end of th armto tilt such construction upon lowering the carrier, the upper end ofsaid arm being normally disposed out of the travel path of said portion,means for moving the upper end of the arm into the travel path of saidportion of the tiltable construction comprising an element on thecarrier having a travel path to permit such element to engage the lowerportion of the arm and move the latter about its axis, and meansoperated by movement of the carrier relative to the guide means forshifting the axis of the arm towards and away from the travel path ofthe carrier, whereby the entire arm may be moved from the travel path ofsaid portion of the tiltable construction and the travel path of saidelement.

6. In an elevator, a movable carrier including a tiltable constructionfor holding materials, guide means for the carrier, an operating armpivotally connected intermediate its ends to the guide means forvertical swinging movement above a horizontal axis, said tiltableconstruction including a portion engageable with the upper end of thearm to tilt such.construction upon lowering the carrier, the upper endof said arm being normally disposed out of the travel path of saidportion, means for moving the upper end of the arm into the travel pathof said portion of the tiltable construction comprising an element onthe lower portion of the arm and move the latter about its axis, andmeans responsive to predetermined movement of the carrier relative tothe guide means for shifting the axis of the arm towards and away fromthe travel path of the carrier, whereby the entire arm may be moved fromthe travel path of said portion of the tiltable construction and thetravel path of said element, said last means including a slide carriedby the guide means movable towards and away from the travel path of thecarrier, a rotatable shaft operatively connected to the slide, a pair ofsprockets on the shaft, a pair of endless chains entrained on thesprockets and each having a portion thereof parallel and adjacent to thetravel path of the carrier, fingers on such portions of the chains, andoppositely pivoted dogs on the carrier engageable with the fingers.

7. In elevator apparatus, means for causing a vertically movable carrierto discharge its contents comprising a frame mountable on elevatorsupport and guide structure, a slide mounted on the frame for horizontalreciprocation, a shaft journaled in the frame for rotation about ahorizontal axis, cam means operatively connecting the shaft and theslide for moving the latter in response to rotation of the shaft, a pairof sprockets fixed on the shaft, an endless chain entrained over each ofthe sprockets, guide means carried by the frame for guiding portions ofthe chains along parallel vertical paths, a finger on each of the chainsfor engagement with cooperating elements of a carrier whereby the chainsmay be moved to rotate the shaft and move the slide, and an operatingarm pivoted to the slide for vertical swinging movement.

8. In elevator construction, a vertically movable carrier assembly andsupport and guide means therefor, said assembly including a carriersupport frame and a tiltable carrier pivotally mounted thereon, saidcarrier being tiltable from a normal material supporting position to amaterial discharging position, latch means carried by the carriersupport frame for retaining the carrier in its normal materialsupporting position, means carried by the first mentioned means forunlatching the latch means and also for tilting the carrier to materialdischarging position upon suitable movement of the assembly comprisingan auxiliary frame, a slide mounted on the auxiliary frame forhorizontal reciprocation towards and away from the travel path of theassembly, a shaft journaled in the auxiliary frame for rotation about ahorizontal axis, cam means operatively connecting the shaft and theslide for moving the latter in response to rotation of the shaft, a pairof sprockets fixed on the shaft, an endless chain entrained over each ofthe sprockets, a guide means carried by the auxiliary frame for guideportions of the chains along parallel vertical paths adjacent the travelpath of the assembly, a finger on each of the chains, oppositely pivoteddogs on the support frame engageable with the fingers during travel ofthe assembly, said chains, said fingers and said dogs being soconstructed and arranged that upward movement of the assembly will causethe slide to be moved towards the travel path of the assembly anddownward movement of the assembly will cause the slide to move away fromthe travel path only when the assembly moves downwardly past apredetermined position, an operating arm pivoted to the slide forvertical swinging movement, means normally urging the lower portion ofthe arm that is below said axis towards the travel path of the means forunlatching the latch means, the carrier including a portion engageablewith the upper end of the arm to tilt the carrier upon downward movementof the assembly, whereby the unlatching means engages the lower portionof the arm, when the slide is adjacent the travel path of the assembly,to unlatch the latch means and also to pivot the upper end of the arminto the travel path of said portion of the carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 809,456 Newmen Jan. 9, 1906 888,434 Weaver May 19, 19081,776,414 Carlson Sept. 23, 1930 2,011,656 Sill Aug. 20, 1935 2,121,121Dempster June 21, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 590,159France Mar. 11, 1925 238,076 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1925 450,828 GermanyOct. 18, 1927

